Scientific Report 2007

The prion protein (green) is expressed at the surface and inside cultured neurons, near the nucleus of the cell (blue) but also, interestingly, at the extremity of the neurite. The latter is best seen on the large central cell but also on smaller bipolar cells. This observation suggests that the normal prion protein could be involved in synaptic transmission. In prion diseases, the prion protein is converted into a misfolded form and causes the death of the neurons. These cultured neuronal cells are not infected, but can be infected, with prions. The cells were labeled with DAPI for the nuclei and with a specific antibody coupled to Alexa 488. They were then examined under objective x20 with a Zeiss microscope, and the images were analyzed by using Zeiss AxioView software. Work done by Nicole Sales, Ph.D., senior staff scientist, in the laboratory of Corinne Lasmézas, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor.

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